Hierarchical HTML Sitemap vs Simple Sitemap (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Sitemap Plugins top 10: Hierarchical HTML Sitemap at #9 and Simple Sitemap at #4. Simple Sitemap leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap
A lightweight HTML sitemap that groups posts by hierarchical categories and can optionally list pages.
Simple Sitemap
Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress
Build a responsive HTML sitemap in the block editor with live preview, flexible sorting, tabs, and shortcode support.
Who leads on what
Simple Sitemap leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Simple Sitemap ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Sitemap Plugins.
Simple Sitemap has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Hierarchical HTML Sitemap has 12, Simple Sitemap has 72. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Simple Sitemap has more reviews behind its score: 72 against 12.
Simple Sitemap was updated more recently, on September 1, 2026; Hierarchical HTML Sitemap on August 30, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Simple Sitemap
Pick Simple Sitemap if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap vs Simple Sitemap side by side
| Hierarchical HTML Sitemap | Simple Sitemap | |
|---|---|---|
| Sitemap Plugins ranking | #9 | #4 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 12 | 72 |
| Active installs | 4,000+ | 60,000+ |
| Total downloads | 44,695 | 1,834,571 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 30, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| First published | Dec 28, 2014 | Jun 30, 2010 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap ratings
Simple Sitemap ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Hierarchical HTML Sitemap nor Simple Sitemap can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Sitemap Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Hierarchical HTML Sitemap vs Simple Sitemap: common questions
Is Hierarchical HTML Sitemap better than Simple Sitemap?
Simple Sitemap leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Simple Sitemap ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Sitemap Plugins.
Which has more users, Hierarchical HTML Sitemap or Simple Sitemap?
Simple Sitemap ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #9 in Sitemap Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Hierarchical HTML Sitemap or Simple Sitemap?
Simple Sitemap has more users: 60,000+ active installs against 4,000+.
Are Hierarchical HTML Sitemap and Simple Sitemap free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Hierarchical HTML Sitemap may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Simple Sitemap may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Hierarchical HTML Sitemap and Simple Sitemap
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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